Calibrachoa plant named ‘Kiecadros’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Kiecadros’, characterized by its uniform, low-growing, cascading and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely and continuous branching habit; small leaves; and freely flowering habit, numerous red purple-colored flowers.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Calibrachoa procumbens cultivar Kiecadros.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa procumbens, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Kiecadros.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Venhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Calibrachoas with numerous flowerswith attractive flower colors.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross made by the Inventor duringthe summer of 1999 of a proprietary Calibrachoa selection identified asKA-1790, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietaryCalibrachoa selection identified as KA-11-1277, not patented, as themale, or pollen parent. The new Calibrachoa was selected as a singleflowering plant from the resulting progeny by the Inventor in 1999 inVenhuizen, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken inVenhuizen, The Netherlands since 1999 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Kiecadros have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kiecadros’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kiecadros’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Uniform, low-growing, cascading and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely and continuous branching habit; short internodes; dense andbushy plant growth habit.

3. Small leaves.

4. Freely flowering habit, numerous red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from the female parent, theselection KA-1790, in flower size and flower color as plants of thefemale parent have smaller flowers and less intense red purple-coloredflowers. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from the male parent, theselection KA-11-1277, primarily in flower color as plants of the maleparent have bright red purple-colored flowers with distinct venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa cultivar Carillon Cherry Rose, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Venhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the newCalibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Carillon Cherry Rose inthe following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of thecultivar Carillon Cherry Rose.

2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants of thecultivar Carillon Cherry Rose.

3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had darker and more intense redpurple-colored flowers than plants of the cultivar Carillon Cherry Rose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Kiecadros’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical developing flower buds and flowers, lower surface of an openedflower, and upper and lower of typical leaves of ‘Kiecadros’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercialpractice during the winter and spring in a polycarbonate-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 18 to 24° C., night temperaturesabout 16 to 18° C., and light levels about 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles.One cutting was planted per 15-cm container and plants were grown forabout 12 weeks. In the following description, color references are madeto The Royal Hortidultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, exceptwhere general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Calibrachoa procumbens cultivar Kiecadros.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa procumbens selection identifiedas KA-1790, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa procumbens selection identified asKA-11-1277, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 10 days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 28 days at 20° C. Winter: About 32days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; uniform, low-growing, cascading andoutwardly spreading plant habit; plants eventually becominghemispherical to spherical in shape. Freely and continuously branchinghabit with about 18 main lateral branches per plant with lateralbranches forming potentially at every node; short internodes; dense andbushy plant growth habit. Moderately vigorous.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio containersand landscape applications.

Plant height.—About 8 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 44 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Internodelength: About 1 cm. Texture: Pubescent; viscid. Color: 144B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Before flowering, alternate; afterflowering, opposite; simple. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 8 mm.Shape: Narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent;viscid. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous; viscid. Venation pattern:Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Young foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.Mature foliage, upper surface: 147B. Mature foliage, lower surface:147C. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface: 147C.Petiole length: About 5 mm. Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Petiole color:147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers; single, axillary. Flowersface mostly upward or outward and are held above the foliage. Flowerspersistent.

Quantity of flowers.—Very freely flowering, typically about 300 or moreopen flowers and flower buds per plant.

Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; spring until frost in theautumn; flowering continuous during the flowering period.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days in thelandscape.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.

Flower depth (height).—About 2.8 cm.

Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: Apex: About5 mm. Base: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: 77A.

Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, fused intoflared trumpet with distinct clefts between petal lobes. Petal lengthfrom throat: About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:Roughly spatulate or fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded and slightlyemarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal tecture: Smooth, satiny. Color:Petal, upper surface, when opening: Brighter than 74A. Petal, lowersurface, when opening: 77A. Petal, upper surface, fully opened: 74B;towards throat, 74A; color becoming closer to 77B to 77C with subsequentdevelopment. Petal, lower surface, fully opened: 77B. Flower throat(inside): 13A. Flower tube (outside): 144B. Venation, upper and lowerpetal surfaces: Same as petal color. Venation, throat: 13A. Venation,tube: 77A.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fused atbase, star-shaped. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:Strap-like, narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:144A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° tothe stem. Strength: Moderately strong; wiry. Texture: Pubescent. Color:144B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five. Anther shape:Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount:Scarce. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 144C. Style length:About 8 mm. Style color: 144C to 144D. Ovary color: 150C.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not beennoted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Calibrachoa.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named‘Kiecadros’, as illustrated and described.